Anbody else an ex-goth or ex-punk?

[ophelia]

I still listen to old school punk and goth music, but I am not into either of the subcultures any longer. Things have changed way too much in each of them to hold my interest.

I started to get into both around 1986 or so, and starting in 1989 I started to heavily go to punk shows. I used to even volunteer at the (in)famous Gilman St. club in Berkeley in 90-91. Back then punk wasn't mainstream and you always had to watch your back because you could get jumped by metalheads, nazi skinheads, or jock types. It felt different then than now because back then if you liked punk, were liberal and looked at all different you were shunned like you had the plague. Plus, everybody who was punk/goth/mod/etc... in my area knew each other or knew of each other because each subculture was so small.

These days punk has been exploited by the mainstream record labels, press and clothing business in order to make a buck. Then again their idea of punk isn't what I listened to, or believed in for that matter, and to this day many of the old school punk bands( GBH, Exploted, Subhumans, UK Subs, Discharge, etc...) still don't get radio play. It's like the mainstream watered the whole concept of it down for mass consumption. Those bands that I just listed would probably freak out a percentage of the kids calling themselves punk these days because many of those bands dealt with politics,etc.. I don't want to, and never wanted to, listen to you whine about your girlfriend dumping you....okay?

Anyway! To this day I have never gotten a corporate job and I have never turned my back on being a liberal/socialist. So I guess you can take the girl out of punk but not the punk out of the girl?

Anybody else want to whine?

 

[Cindy B]

I was more of the alternative/new wave scene than actual punk. Remember 120 Minutes on Sunday nights on MTV? That was MY SHOW!

Sure, I remember my lesbian and gay friends getting beat up by the skinheads. I actually dated a skinhead for a very short time and it just shocked me how violent he and his friends actually were.

I was definetely different at that time. I had very different style and to this day never let conformity rule me. I'm a suburban mom, but I still have a different viewpoint.

I loved being different.

 

[castleview]

I was more of the alternative/new wave scene than actual punk. Remember 120 Minutes on Sunday nights on MTV? That was MY SHOW!

Sure, I remember my lesbian and gay friends getting beat up by the skinheads. I actually dated a skinhead for a very short time and it just shocked me how violent he and his friends actually were.

I was definetely different at that time. I had very different style and to this day never let conformity rule me. I'm a suburban mom, but I still have a different viewpoint.

I loved being different.

Were you a Post Modern girl too?

 

[java]

I was a prep that went punk. Not crazy- but my friend did get a mohawk(a girl by the way) I stayed pretty tame but frequented mosh pits. Really I did.
Long Island anyone? I was a Thursday night Malibu goer- and a Spit wed. night through the back door(It was a disco Sam's that played alternative music once a week but you had to enter through the back. )

I did date one super punk guy.

What's funny now is that when I see some teen alternative type I want to say "LOOK THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS IN 20 YEARS! you go frump"

 

[Stacerita]

I was a prep that went punk. Not crazy- but my friend did get a mohawk(a girl by the way) I stayed pretty tame but frequented mosh pits. Really I did.
Long Island anyone? I was a Thursday night Malibu goer- and a Spit wed. night through the back door(It was a disco Sam's that played alternative music once a week but you had to enter through the back. )

I did date one super punk guy.

What's funny now is that when I see some teen alternative type I want to say "LOOK THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS IN 20 YEARS! you go frump"

 

[castleview]

I was a prep that went punk. Not crazy- but my friend did get a mohawk(a girl by the way) I stayed pretty tame but frequented mosh pits. Really I did.
Long Island anyone? I was a Thursday night Malibu goer- and a Spit wed. night through the back door(It was a disco Sam's that played alternative music once a week but you had to enter through the back. )

I did date one super punk guy.

What's funny now is that when I see some teen alternative type I want to say "LOOK THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS IN 20 YEARS! you go frump"

I went to Spit a few times. I lived three blocks from the place and used to make fun of my Uncle who went there when it was Uncle Sam's! Thank goodness for the back door.

 

[Diva of Dragons]

Punk! 1978-79 is when it first gaining momentum in the U.S. My Freshman year of high school wasvery interesting, and self-destructive, unfortunately. I cleaned up my act but still love the music after all these years!

 

[tasha99]

It took me a few months, but about two years ago, finally convinced DD that no real punk with any self respect would buy her clothes at the mall, even (or maybe especially) from Hot Topic. I also had to explain to her that when Avril Lavigne called herself a punk, she was lying. So glad she's done with her commercial emo phase . . .

I was never too extreme, though I had friends who were. I did have purple hair, though, which was a lot more unusual in the early 80's than it is now.

 

[HunnyPots]

I think for most of us, it's called, "outgrowing a phase".

Whatever you were into as a teen, most likely you will leave it behind for a more mainstream way of life. Of course, if you walk down the halls of any high school you'll see that "punk" (or it's pseudo form) is mainstream! It's the preppies that look like the rebels now, since there are so few of them!

 

[Mamu]

Never Punk, never Goth A little too old for both. Yet I saw my children go through Punk and some of my Grand Children go through moderate Goth.

I still remember my first experience with Goth. Went to the mall on a Friday night I must have sat there with my mouth open for hours.

I will say GOTH was an eye-opener as to the differences between teens and adulthood. Yet underneath all that black, and death look, there is a teen who just wants to be excepted. Expression is good and in the end most grow-up to be normal-healthy adults.

 

[ophelia]

I think for most of us, it's called, "outgrowing a phase".

Whatever you were into as a teen, most likely you will leave it behind for a more mainstream way of life. Of course, if you walk down the halls of any high school you'll see that "punk" (or it's pseudo form) is mainstream! It's the preppies that look like the rebels now, since there are so few of them!

It was a lifestyle for me more than anything else. I have the same political beliefs as I did 20 years ago. I'm still not mainstream, but I don't dye my hair pink any longer.

 

[castleview]

Never Punk, never Goth A little too old for both. Yet I saw my children go through Punk and some of my Grand Children go through moderate Goth.

I still remember my first experience with Goth. Went to the mall on a Friday night I must have sat there with my mouth open for hours.

I will say GOTH was an eye-opener as to the differences between teens and adulthood. Yet underneath all that black, and death look, there is a teen who just wants to be excepted. Expression is good and in the end most grow-up to be normal-healthy adults.

That's what I loved when I was teaching high school, underneath it all they're all looking to be accepted as adults, yet can be so hilariously child like while doing it.

 

[apirateslifeforme]

I am so going to get flamed for this (since others have made it clear that they find it weird), but I'm 34 and still into goth. Victorian goth, though...I wear a lot of black, lace and velvet, crosses...my hair isn't black, but a very dark purple-red...I read Gothic Beauty magazine...I have a "coffin collection" (little coffin-shaped jewelry boxes) in my room...I just like the elegant side of it, not the "woe is me, I want to die" stereotype. On the now-defunct Gothic Beauty message boards, we'd sometimes get a lot of kids that would post that kind of stuff, but it was mostly well-adjusted, happy adults who just liked the look and the music and the movies, etc.

 

[ophelia]

I am so going to get flamed for this (since others have made it clear that they find it weird), but I'm 34 and still into goth. Victorian goth, though...I wear a lot of black, lace and velvet, crosses...my hair isn't black, but a very dark purple-red...I read Gothic Beauty magazine...I have a "coffin collection" (little coffin-shaped jewelry boxes) in my room...I just like the elegant side of it, not the "woe is me, I want to die" stereotype. On the now-defunct Gothic Beauty message boards, we'd sometimes get a lot of kids that would post that kind of stuff, but it was mostly well-adjusted, happy adults who just liked the look and the music and the movies, etc.

I call that magazine Gothic Booty. A lot of kids believe the stereotypes and try to live up to them. I liked it better when there wasn't an internet and these kids had to actually think for themselves. I got rid of all of most of my goth clothes four years ago because I don't go to clubs any longer. I used to DJ and you wouldn't believe the drama! I will always be a bit on the 'dark' side but I just can't get into the whole club scene any longer.

 

[kate0305]

I find it a bit ironic I see this thread today when I just said something a couple of days ago about rocking out to Pretty Hate Machine in my lovely soccer mom volvo station wagon with the windows down and nary a strange look. And it is the ORIGINAL tape purchased in the late 80s.

I also remember seeing Jane's Addiction at Bogarts in Cincinnati before anyone knew (including me) who the heck they were and Perry Farrel pulled off a COWBOY hat to expose his green hair- and getting my toe broken at a Skinny Puppy show and then losing my waitressing job as a result. I had waist length black hair and white skin-lucky irish genes- wore lots of black and pointy toe buckled shoes and boots with fishnet hose. . .before anyone really had called it 'goth' . . .and clubbed all night, slept all day, and lived to emulate Anne Rice (this is making me laugh to remember).

Yesterday I had my 2 kids (5 and 3) eating happy meals at McDs and a male youth with eyeliner was looking at me like 'you gonna say something old woman, or give me a weird look because I am so different' and I wanted to smile and say "sweetie, in 1990, my prom date not only wore eyeliner, but also an ankle length skirt".

My ultra conservative DH will freak out when my kids have purple hair (par for the course in the neighborhood we live in-we call them the Highlands kids) but I will just smile, and pull my old painted up motorcycle jacket out of the back of the closet for them

 

[Colleen27]

My ultra conservative DH will freak out when my kids have purple hair (par for the course in the neighborhood we live in-we call them the Highlands kids) but I will just smile, and pull my old painted up motorcycle jacket out of the back of the closet for them

This cracked me up! It is so me & DH. He's ultra-conservative and a bit of a redneck; I was Goth when we met and still have some rather strong leanings in that direction, though I've toned down my look a bit over the years. He *freaked* when DS11 wanted a mohawk. I gave DS my colored hair gels. He doesn't have anything to worry about with DD7, though... I always said the best way for a kid to rebel against me as a parent would to be absolutely, completely normal, and what did I get? A Hannah Montana worshipping cheerleader!

 

[ophelia]

I find it a bit ironic I see this thread today when I just said something a couple of days ago about rocking out to Pretty Hate Machine in my lovely soccer mom volvo station wagon with the windows down and nary a strange look. And it is the ORIGINAL tape purchased in the late 80s.

I also remember seeing Jane's Addiction at Bogarts in Cincinnati before anyone knew (including me) who the heck they were and Perry Farrel pulled off a COWBOY hat to expose his green hair- and getting my toe broken at a Skinny Puppy show and then losing my waitressing job as a result. I had waist length black hair and white skin-lucky irish genes- wore lots of black and pointy toe buckled shoes and boots with fishnet hose. . .before anyone really had called it 'goth' . . .and clubbed all night, slept all day, and lived to emulate Anne Rice (this is making me laugh to remember).

Yesterday I had my 2 kids (5 and 3) eating happy meals at McDs and a male youth with eyeliner was looking at me like 'you gonna say something old woman, or give me a weird look because I am so different' and I wanted to smile and say "sweetie, in 1990, my prom date not only wore eyeliner, but also an ankle length skirt".

My ultra conservative DH will freak out when my kids have purple hair (par for the course in the neighborhood we live in-we call them the Highlands kids) but I will just smile, and pull my old painted up motorcycle jacket out of the back of the closet for them

I graduated in 89 and did the same thing. I was the only person wearing skull boots and black lipstick on a regular basis. I even had my hair shaved underneath and would wear it in a ponytail all the time. I didn't go to my prom, I got drunk with a bunch of stoners that night. LOL

 

[pr surfer]

I'm a current punk

You don't stop being a punk. You just learn to dress well

 

[torismom]

When I have talked to my dd / ds about my views and how I was in the past they called me a freak and said you were one of those people....LOL I thought I was going to die laughing at their reaction. To see me now you would never know from my appearance.I do still tend to be very edgy to a point and I am my own person.

I listened (still do) to punk , heavy metal , alternative and everything else. All of my friends had mohawks, dressed in black, different colored hair etc....When the asymetrical cuts were in ..I had half my head shaved. I wore combat boots, a black dress and black roses to a local prom.My date wore eyeliner and combat boots. Weren't the 80's great!?!

 

[ophelia]

I'm a current punk

You don't stop being a punk. You just learn to dress well

I guess that's what it is. I have an Exploited and two Misfit tattos, among others, so I can't ever completely escape it. ;-)